Valley of my mind

~"Take a step and you will see... Some of the things inside of me... :)" ~   Mes Visiteurs: var sc_project=6706939; var sc_invisible=0; var sc_security="ac23cc27";

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Its a wrapp! Represented Indonesian Youth Diplomacy (IYD) at RRI's event: Diplomatic Forum Role of the Youth in Diplomacy Very honored to be on the same stage with H.E Amb. Ms. Judit Németh-Pach from the Embassy of Hungary and Mr. Rudolf Wirawan from Indonesia Diaspora Network and Wirasoft Consulting Australia. A nice inter-generational discussion as well. All hail Indonesian Youth! Lets grow together 💪🏼😊

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Hii everyone who usually read my posts (who have probably stopped looking at my blog since I disappeared for 8 months LOL). I am very sorry I haven’t been updating my blog for so long, when in fact, I have had amazing experiences in the past 8 months (which includes a trip to Australia, no, not for holidays and awesome things I did with my organisation Indonesian Youth Diplomacy). It could be because i have been super busy (however in the past I am always able to squeeze in time even when I am super busy.. that’s what scheduling is for), but I guess the real reason is because even in my leisure times I didn’t receive any muse that usually gives me an extra urge to write on my blog. I am always procrastinating. Haha.

Ok, enough for the apologizing part. :p

For starters, this post is on the (then) breaking news that I now work for the United Nations! Yes, UN! I have been a part of the UN system since mid-April 2015. Alhamdulillah. For those close to me, you know all my struggles post-Masters Degree graduation. Blood and tears, baby.

I have always wanted to work for the UN, not only that I want to know what it is like to be in the UN system, but also (and most of all) to contribute as best I can and learn as much as I can while I am here.

Specifically I work for the United Nations Office for REDD+ Coordination in Indonesia (UNORCID). For those not familiar with REDD+, it is within the environment sector and stands for Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation. The headquarters is in Jakarta with field offices in Kalimantan and Sumatra. 

In the pictures above you will see some of the main work that I do. Others cannot be captured in pictures such as written work and such. Basically in a nutshell I was a UN green education consultant for some projects in Bali with Green School Bali and some junior and senior high schools in Denpasar. I am now a Communications Officer at the Jakarta office. 

It’s been a great experience so far with its ups and downs, but hey, it’s life! I am also very thankful to have met amazing and inspiring people while I am here. I have been learning a lot while contributing what I can.

One thing that I would like to share, if you feel like giving up, keep on going. Who knows what you are looking for is just a few steps away! Keep on going until you honestly feel you can’t no more and have to let go. But don’t give up easily without much effort.

Best,

Zeva

[zevasudana-blog]

Lucky I'm In Love With..

This video is about a human boy who fell in love with a mermaid. They both have fundamental differences. It seems impossible. But nothing, not even a mermaid scaley tail or human legs could keep their love apart. After some time, he proposed with a bundle of love which triggered a change in her and they lived happily ever after. The end.

This is tooo cute+sweet of an animated stop-motion lyric video to Jason Mraz and Colbie Caillat's song Lucky to not share on my blog! It will remind us of Ariel the Little Mermaid. Lol. ENJOY! :)

Video by: Hapimaramara

[zevasudana-blog]

Drifting by the Sea

Now.

A speck of dust in the far horizon.

Two ships travel further and further away.

Defying magnetism. Defying the allure.

It gets smaller, smaller.. and smaller.

Cannot hear. Let alone see. Nor even feel.

Trying to reach out and grasp what's left.

Yet nothingness.

This voice croaks. Too dry to speak.

Though if it can speak, what's turned to dust.. it cannot hear..

Let alone see. Nor even feel. 

Could the wind bring this precious message?

Will the Lighthouse help light up our way?

Yet here we are.

Drifting by the sea.

Drifting away.

Apart.

- By me. My name is Zeva. One random cold evening.

19/01/2015.

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I used to often write poetry/poems. Whenever I had a muse or any inspiration. I also used to often draw/paint quite a lot since primary school (nothing amazing like the painting on this post though lol). Don't know why I haven't made any in a few years back. Not that I don't like/don't want to write poems/poetry or draw or paint anymore. I always enjoy it whenever I go to art galleries or museums. The last I went to was Musee Du Louvre and Musee D'Orsay in Paris. It was a dream-come-true. Maybe I've been consumed by my own daily life. I should do this more often. Sometimes I just want to retreat far away. And let it be.

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Oil painting by: Leonid Afremov 

[zevasudana-blog]

Hi guys! Been awhile since I posted on Tumblr. Certain things are just going on around me. Anywayss.. I have an important update for all of you 18-30yo Indonesians residing anywhere in the world: the Y20 2015 Summit Recruitment! I will be updating this tumblr post gradually with images and gifs (hopefully it works), so be sure to check again once in a while for the next few weeks! Taaa!

"Are you interested and concerned with G20 related issues? Do you have the passion towards economic, financial until social issues? Do you believe that the voices of the youth should be increasingly heard in order to help drive for better change? Do you have the perseverance and what it takes to be the final five Indonesian delegates representing the Republic of Indonesia at the 2015 Y20 Summit? Stay tuned and please spread the word 

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Our Newest Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/YouthDiplomacyID

This is the old page --> ( http://www.facebook.com/iyouthdiplomacy ) , please be updated through the new one. We are gradually moving from the old post-reform. Cheers!,"

[zevasudana-blog]

Prairie Melodies

Hey peeps! If you've been reading my blog since awhile back or even years back, you'll notice that I don't usually specifically make various posts with pics of myself posing for some outfit that I'm wearing (though i do enjoy fashion and love mixing and matching clothes in everyday life when I can and if I feel like it) nor do I take close-up pics of myself often like what I'm doing right now, bombarding a portion of your computer/laptop/handphone screen with my face haha! In short, I am not specifically a fashion nor make-up blogger, two types of bloggers that are so widespread nowadays on the internet. This includes the growing number of hijabi fashionista or makeup bloggers out there. Although I do make fashion and makeup-how-to posts once in a while, I pretty much prefer making travel posts, events posts, contemplation posts and such for this blog. 

I guess in a way this blog is kind of like a diary of mine. Drawing things out from what I have experienced whether (hopefully) interesting or not for others and (hopefully) in some ways bring some kind of a positive benefit to others. People may also relate to what I write, or maybe not, yet I would like to share it to anyone who takes their precious time to read what I write. At the least, this blog is something precious to me. I've had it for awhile now. I also don't have any commercial intentions. None so far anyways haha. Through time whenever I read back at the things I wrote and what I experienced, I can see clearer that I am going through a special growth process. I guess many personal bloggers out there will also feel this with their own blogs, watching it grow page by page. 

Anyways.. tomorrow is November and may we all be blessed for this new month, as like of other months of the year. 

Best,

Zeva.

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Pic: Faux leather vest by Zara, Long-sleeve Top by Zoya, Flower headband by Velvet Boutique. 

[zevasudana-blog]

Hi everyone! This is a post long-awaited! Too long actually, the photos have probably been moulding on my desktop. So sorry. I was supposed to post this back in July on tumblr.. yes, that's like more than 2 months ago. I've been handling and going through a lot personally. Maybe I'll write it on this blog of mine one day for another general contemplation post. But one thing I would like to share: No matter how life gives pressure on you, believe that it will only strengthen you into a better person. A better version of yourself!

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This post is a continuation of a post I wrote on July that you can read here. Why I was in Australia and for what purpose I was there, I shared on that post. This post is more on my trip to the city of Melbourne! It's a bit like "pulang kampung" for me, an Indonesian term which means going back to your roots. Haha. If you're wondering why, I spent most of my childhood growing up in Australia, specifically Canberra and Melbourne. I may not sound Aussie anymore (yep I've lost the accent but still can imitate it if asked) but deep down I still have Aussie swag in my blood hahaha.

The trip to Melbourne was a mix of formal and informal events. The formal consists of meeting Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs (DFAT) specifically their Victoria State Office (Melbourne is in the State of Victoria for those who may not know). Me and my friends from the Y20 Indonesian Delegation had a meeting and lunch with the high officials of the VSO. The VSO people were so wonderful and we had such a wonderful time talking about issues of the region, Indonesia, and Australia in a laid back way yet comprehensive. I just love such talks! On the other hand, the informal events were just as memorable, and maybe even more in its own way!

Highlight: I was reunited with my since-childhood besties! With all our schedules in my limited time there and everyone everywhere in and out of Australia, I managed to meet up and spend quality time with Nicole, Bec, Joanna, Patricia, Aaron and Bec's parents! We chilled out in the city in the afternoon until night, visited the primary school we went to (you can see in one of pics above) and I even managed a road trip along the Great Ocean Road and the small areas surrounding it with Bec! Can you even imagine, the last time I met them was in 6th Grade of Primary School! That's an awful long time ago. But we have always kept in contact. From the classic snail-mail, email, Facebook, chats and all. It was great to actually catch up in person and share a lot about our lives and journeys!

Besides meeting up with my since-childhood besties, I also met with some awesome kids from PPI Victoria. PPI is a united organization of Indonesian students that are studying abroad. Indonesia has a core PPI in a lot of foreign countries in the world and each core has regional branches. That said, PPI Victoria is the regional branch of PPI Australia. On the road trip I mentioned earlier with Bec, we also went there with some other friends who also invited other friends to join. It was so much fun and I met new people/ made new friends!

You know what? I see myself in the future coming back for a visit to Australia again. Hopefully it comes true! For so long I hoped to come visit Australia again and this wish came true, alhamdulillah. I hope this new wish I have said will come true again. :)

PS: I have added one new pic above! It is of my childhood besties meet-up in Sydney! I met Rachael, Ashley and Madeleine also with their wonderful mums! I've known them since I can remember, we grew up together in our pre-school and kindergarten days. The meet-up was in Sydney, but since the previous Sydney post is so related to Y20, i decided to put this precious photo of us here :)

[zevasudana-blog]

2014 G20's Y20 Summit Australia: Youths Speak Out Down Under!

Hey everyone! Remember the post that I wrote here about me being chosen as one of Indonesia's five youth representatives to this year's Y20 Summit in Sydney, Australia and also a vid of my friend Jo and I here? In continuation to those posts, in this post I would like to share a bit about my experience as a delegate to this year's Y20 last month in July! So here we go, let me share with you and write it down in a more laid back way. Shall we? Lets!

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Being a part of the Y20 Summit in 2014 was a great opportunity to not only discuss and negotiate, but truly engage and make a concrete outcome that is delivered to those high in power. Global issues has long been a deep rooted part of me. Part of the reason is because of my international politics background. I am glad to have the opportunity to be in the middle of youth global politics. A very interesting experience and I learnt a lot.

The Y20 Summit is a significant event and should be increasingly supported. Why? When we talk about the Y20 Summit, how our voices will be taken into consideration by global strategic decision-makers and what exactly is its significance to the global economy, it should not be given the cold shoulder. Youths are the drivers of global development (whether economic until social) from the present and especially in the future. As a platform in extension to the yearly G20 Summit (this year will be held in Brisbane in November), through the Y20, youth representatives from G20 member-states and invited countries are given the chance to further discuss, negotiate and attempt to reach consensus towards ideas that will be delivered to the G20 stakeholders including the G20 leaders themselves (especially the Presidents / Prime Ministers and Finance Ministers). After lively processes, some days where lobbying was done until beyond 12AM (oh yes, panda-eyes), The Policy Asks/Priority Recommendations and the Final Communique/Delegates Declaration were the outcome of this year's Y20. You can check it out here. A side note, all this has been quite a long process. Delegates do not just come together to discuss in a 4 day Summit in Sydney. We have been discussing, debating and negotiating within the three policy frameworks (Growth & Jobs Creation, Global Citizenship & Mobility, and Sustainable Development) since the start of 2014 on an online platform after we were announced to represent our countries in January. It was a bumpy ride, I tell you lol.. but we all pulled it off in the end and I'm so proud of everyone!

The 109 chosen youth delegates of this year's Summit were diverse and awesome! I learnt a lot just by being among them and talking with them about many things. I made many new friends along the way. They come from (in aggregate) emerging until advanced economies, developing until developed countries or however you wish to address it. In addition to the G20 member-states, there were invited countries by this year's host Australia which were Mauritania, Myanmar, New Zealand, Singapore and Spain. It was such a great opportunity to meet these youths of different backgrounds. It also brings the opportunity to rise various kinds of issues from a diversity of regions in relation to the Y20 and G20 agenda. It was a great chance to raise the major concerns of the youths from your respective countries in order to be increasingly heard. Furthermore as a representative of the Indonesian Delegation, we not only represent Indonesia, but indirectly also the ASEAN, AsPac, emerging economies and developing countries as a whole. Based on our diversity, in the Y20 Summit all delegates uphold inclusivity and not exclusivity. 

Youth-related issues in the domains of the G20-Y20 agenda are similar yet also differ in its own unique ways. However, this year the issue of youth unemployment and jobs creation was high on the things-of-urgent-concern-list. Based on this, ideas surrounding social and economic opportunities for youths were widely discussed. In my opinion i see an important connection between the Growth & Jobs Creation stream and the Global Citizenship and Mobility stream. The former highlights the more economic-financial approach whilst the latter addresses a more vast socio-economic approach that provides strong policy foundations for the former. Things related to educational access and professional opportunities for example were highly highlighted in the latter.  The third stream, Sustainable Development, is also significant. Because when you talk about global, regional, national economic growth, taking sustainable development into high concern and consideration is vital in order to achieve more balance. Though hard. But it must be increasingly supported. Youths have great chances to give impact towards sustainable development especially those involved in this sector. However, I do feel that in relation to/context of youths, the first two streams somehow will have a higher chance to be put into further consideration more by the G20 (based on their main agenda) because of the complexities and differing capabilities of sustainable development among countries and the fact that the other streams have a more direct effect towards youths. But I as an avid supporter of sustainable development hope that its targets/goals would be increasingly supported and realized for the betterment of living beings on earth in the short and long run.

Now, how did the Indonesian delegation go? With the support of other delegates and teaming up with specific delegations from each stream, we have successfully pushed agendas on increasing opportunities for skills development for youths, ease youth labor mobility (both educationally and professionally), female empowerment in the workforce and uphold rural development and agricultural investments. Apart from that, I was one of the three Y20 delegates interviewed by Australia's leading news channel ABC! I am thankful I was given the experience. It was my first time appearing on television and an international one! Yayy! A nice start and I hope if ever I appear on television again to discuss current affairs I will be more vibrant and dynamic haha. A picture of me you can see in the photos of this post. My friend Simon who was in Canberra at the time took the photo, he was surprised to see me on tellie. Hahahah. Also, I did 2 other interviews. One was for the Young Professionals in Foreign Policy (YPFP, Brussels Branch) and the other was for Vibewire, an Australian youth media.

Well, now what post Y20 Summit for all delegates? Of course the journey doesn't stop at the Y20 Summit in Sydney. When we go back to our countries we have to continually spread the causes that the Y20 Summit in Sydney highlighted whether through engaging with the government, policymakers until the private sector that are of relevance. Not only the hopes is that it will make youth issues become an increasing priority in the upcoming G20 Leaders Summit in November, but also post G20 Summit 2014 all these ideas should not be put to dust but be further realized. Simultaneously, further cooperation should be implemented between the G20, Y20, B20, L20 and C20. It is a multi-stakeholder and multi-level process. You cant do it alone.

A last note, I would like to thank this year's Australian Planning Group for making an amazing Y20 Summit!! Not only did they facilitated the sub-committee and plenary sessions, but they did an amazing job overall planning all formal and informal events! To name a few, we had Masterclasses to enrich our knowledge and further prepare us post-Summit, we were introduced to aboriginal culture (we were taught to dance aboriginal dances too!), the hospitality was exquisite, and social events were fun! I still am memorably surprised (in an extra happy way) about three things: 1) It was the Ramadhan Month for Muslims. For those who fasted we were given food early in the morning for "sahur" and meals to break our fast. Very sweet and considerate, seriously. I didn't expect this at all, i thought i'd have to prepare myself .. 2) Luna Park, one of Australia's famous amusement park, was partially booked for us in one of the evenings! It must cost loads I have no idea but that night it was just the Y20 crew going all crazy on some of the amusement rides hahahaha .... 3) In the first night of the Y20 the Planning Group gave us a surprise: We had a fireworks display just for us, launched from the Sydney Harbour Dockside area. Surreal! It was like New Years Eve. Hahaha.

There's just so many to share seriously but my blogpost will be even more longer than it already is. Or shall I say, what happened in Sydney stays in Sydney? Hahaha.

Until my next post: The side events, reunions, and my Melbourne trip.

See ya laterr aligatorr!

PS: Throughout my stay in Australia, specifically for the Y20 Summit, I was quite active on my twitter account @zevasudana. I posted tweets on the events and some dynamics of the discussions, however mostly in Bahasa Indonesia (I wanted to reach an Indonesian audience as a priority target). Just insert the hash tag #IndoY20Oz to read em (though I dont think twitter will display all in the search results, you could read all on my timeline though).. for the english ones by all the delegates and planning group, check out #Y20AUS

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Y20 Australia 2014 - Indonesian Delegation

Hi everyone! Counting down the days, I will be going to Australia! Mainly for the G20 Summit's Y20 Summit in Sydney. I will be meeting representatives of G20 youths and youths from invited countries to finalise the lively discussions that have been conducted online since the past months and making the Final Communique to be presented to Australian leaders and G20 leaders! I will be representing Indonesia with four other selected delegates: Almo Pradana, Donny Eryastha, Dyah Ramadhani, and Johannes Ardiant (in my earlier post that you can read here, Guinandra Jatikusumo was also a part of the delegation but for some specific personal reasons, unfortunately he couldn't attend).

In the Summit we will be discussing and debating various G20 related issues in 3 streams: Growth & Job Creation, Sustainable Development, and Global CItizenship & Mobility. In the end we aim to reach consensus to the ideas and present it in a Final Communique. Hope everything goes well! The Indonesian Delegation as a representative also of the ASEAN region, developing countries, and emerging economies, we will try to give our best and deliver our perspectives and cooperate with other countries for a sustainable outcome.

In the upcoming posts that I will make (in time eventually), I will share my experiences in this year's Y20 Summit by making summaries of substantial matters that hopefully will be informative to all and share the fun socials of the Summit!

The Indonesian Delegation will also be attending a significant seminar in Sydney by the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI), which I am very much looking forward to since it connects economic development with women empowerment!

Not only that, the Indonesian Delegation will also be going to Melbourne! It will be exiting too since I'm planning to meet my buddies since primary school there that I haven't met in such a long time! Will also meet buddies in Sydney that I haven't seen in ages too! It's such a dream come true!  In Melbourne, we will also have meetings with some organisations and are invited to meet with high government officials from the Victorian State Office! Soo excited!

I applied for the Indonesian Delegation to the Y20 Summit 2 years ago to attend the Washington Summit and I didn't make it in the final rounds. I was so sad, I wrote a post somewhere in my blog about it lol. Afterwards I applied to be a part of the international delegation and went through until the final interviews but didn't nail the spot in the end. Now, I truly believe that everything happens for a reason! If I was successful to become a delegate to the Washington Summit, I wouldn't have gone to Australia at this time and have an opportunity to attend the Sydney Summit nor meet my long-time Aussie best friends! So lets underline in our minds that, everything happens for a reason and everything will fall into place in its own time.

You know I love travelling, but I love it even more when I learn lots along the way!

Catch you later post-Australia!

Best Wishes,

Zeva

PS: In the meantime, watch the above video to see a bit about the Indonesian Delegation and what we've been up to

[zevasudana-blog]

Crossroads: A Complicated Drive-By

“There must be a few times in life when you stand at a precipice of a decision. When you know there will forever be a Before and an After...I knew there would be no turning back if I designated this moment as my own Prime Meridian from which everything else would be measured.” ― Justina Chen, North of Beautiful

Everyone, yes, everyone in their lifetime will experience some kinds of situations where they have to measure back and forth towards a certain issue with different options and eventually (whether consciously or subconsciously) come to a decision. Life changing decisions. Those decisions where in your heart you know that choosing one option will lead you to a whole different outcome compared to the other option(s). A different road. Different sets of experiences and consequences at that. We call it a crossroads of life. I believe that crossroads aren't the destination(s) of life. They are the drive-by's, but the significant and brain and heart quenching ones where you have to make significant decisions to pass it. 

These crossroads that you face and decisions that you make come in all sorts of shapes and sizes. The bitter and the sweet. With all the underlying reasons and/or rationales that make you take that leap. But here, as slightly mentioned beforehand, I'd like to specifically underline those decisions that could be life-changing. And in a sense, could also be heart-breaking, heart-distorting or heart-changing. Why? Because it affects you to your inner core. To your feelings and your soul. It somehow imprints you. That's how deep it goes. I will leave the definition of it just here, and you can decide, imagine in your mind and relate to it however you want based on what you are facing.

Personally, in the last two years I have faced such crossroads. A few of them. If I had another choice and some magical ace-card, I'd rather would not face them and not make those decisions. But life is life. You have to in order to change directions, move forward, or grow. You have reasons behind it. Some people make such decisions quickly and some take more time. But you have to, eventually. Time will make you to. It is not a surprising thing that even after you've made a decision, you may feel unsure and restless. You feel like the future is a hazy space of uncertainty where it is hard to predict on what will happen to you because of that choice you've made. Somehow, I feel like crossroads are meant to be, though. To test us. Therefore you are required to create space for a strong dose of faith. To make you confident in your choices and be responsible for it after a process of thinking through until you can think no more. No, this is not over-thinking. In big decisions, you need to think things through a tad more. Though, there are times where you just have not enough time and you have to make big decisions quicker than you want. Have you felt or thought the same way too like how I do?

After the decision/s is/are made, slowly but surely as days go by, you will see the outcomes of it all. There are also those conditions that make people see/feel the outcome in a longer span of time. What's certain, consequences are there. Both positive, neutral and negative. The pro's and the con's. The vivid and the grey. It teaches you. Some teaches you by dragging you down and crumbling you, some teaches you softly and lightly. Either way, you have a great chance to be empowered, in whatever direction that empowerment may be. Afterwards, you are not exactly the same person. You are still you, authentic and genuine. But some aspects may have developed and/or shifted. Whether your outlook / perspective or even the way you deliver yourself. Life has its risk-takings. Life is full of risks. Its inevitable. Decision-making is also risk-taking. What is important is to not make reckless risks. Uniquely, its an ideal to take risks that are calculated but also flexible. Being hard-headed will get you nowhere. Responsibility comes with your decisions. Everyone has their own pace and way of learning about this. I, have had my fair share and maybe life wants me to take some more? Bring it on.

Crossroads that are life-changing and the decisions made after, therefore is a sense of renewal. You may feel scared, anxious, or even high spirited and thirsty for self-development. But all in all you may feel naked and raw afterwards, expecting challenges and ready for life to shape you even more.

- Me. One cloudy afternoon, approaching Maghrib time. With my head divided into many compartments of thoughts. So please, help us God.

[zevasudana-blog]

A Little Adventure!

This video is a short fun footage of my two adorable little toddler cousins, Sena and Daeza! I took them, their dad Om Tasaro (who is also my uncle) and Rita, a distant cousin of mine, to a nice place called Jendela Alam in Bandung Barat, Indonesia! We had a lot of fun! Sena and Daeza's mom couldn't come because she was accompanying my mom.

Jendela Alam is a little kiddies place and the area was quite large! Larger than I expected! You could be accompanied by a guide too, who could help show you around and help with things. There were many animals to see, more than what's in the vid (most are farm animals), a medium-sized playground, pool+water slide, agriculture tourism, outbound area, eating areas and many more! I really like how it's laid out and the place was very clean. Though the smell of farm animals in certain areas was inevitable (d'uh lol). It's a nice place to bring kids and for them to learn about animals and nature. When we went there, we also saw some kindergarten kids on a tour/excursion. It was so cute! Haha. The entry-price was IDR 15.000,00 per-person (for each adult and children) and if you want to go on the rides and activities you have to pay again per-ride/activity. The playground area doesn't need additional cost though. Anyways, it was worth it especially seeing the happy smiles on Sena and Dae's faces! :)

It's been ages since I made a self-made video-post! A mix of photos and video clips. I think the last one I made was when I was in England, with all the travelling. Yep, it's been awhile. Well, enjoy this one! 

Best,

Zeva

[zevasudana-blog]

Yep! It's YEP Camp Indonesia!

Howdy! Late post coming up! Haha.

It was a wrap! On the 3-4 of May 2014, Youth EcoPreneurship Camp (YEP Camp) Indonesia was implemented in Bogor's serene Cibodas area! Peak event of it all! Overall, it was a huge success! It took approximately a year's process to design until execute this project; from the formulation+conceptualisation of the project, competing for the primary funding in order to be able to implement the project, preparation of the project, finding youth speakers and trainers, approaching additional sponsors, mass launching for publication, national selection process for participants, until the Big Day itself! The committee consisted of SUSI scholarship grantees from various programs from the US Department of State (Olivia, Grace, Ika, Febe, Zeva, Eybi, Fahmi, Rida, Ilham, Hafiz, and Natasha). YEP Camp was funded by Hawaii's East West Center. Some newspapers also wrote articles on us. I'll put the links below. We are only a small team of committees but we managed to pull it off, also through the help+support of various wonderful people. It was a handful full of ups and downs. But in the end it was totally worth it. Our mission was accomplished and we drew satisfied expressions on the participants faces, which meant a lot to us. :)

So what is YEP Camp? For those of you who haven't read my previous post here, well that was just about the launching of YEP Camp at @america in Pacific Place. Now, this post is about The Day!

The general idea of YEP Camp is a camp where Indonesia's chosen (majority) underprivileged youths ages 15-25 who may not have much access/opportunities could gain eco-business knowledge, get the chance to learn in a fun youthful way about eco-business, or doing business in an environmentally friendly way in order to become ecopreneurs. It is also a way to empower youths, increase chances of tackling youth unemployment, and creating jobs for the people in their environment.

After a tough selection process out of the hundreds of applicants from across Indonesia from Sumatra, Java, Sulawesi, Kalimantan until Bali (I was the coordinator in charge of the selection process), thirty (30) chosen bright and highly potential youths from Padang, Depok, Jakarta, Bandung, Bekasi, Surabaya until Semarang came to Bogor to spend time with us and the amazing youth trainers+speakers. I am so proud of them all and no regret do I have picking them. They made me and the rest of the committee proud fosho! Lol. Especially in their final business plans presentations! We also had fun indoor and outdoor rally games in a national park! These kids were a mix of those already having small eco-businesses less than a year and those who are completely new but have great ideas for eco-business that could become a realisation.

Being a part of YEP Camp was a "polishing" opportunity to get the important basics and inspirations to tackle the world of eco-business directly from prominent youth trainers and speakers. There was no participation fee at all to join, accommodation and meals were all taken care of by us. All they had to do was enjoy our eco-business ride! We believe that every youth deserves the chance to excel, one of the ways which is through eco-business, no matter what socio-economic background you have. Social justice, indeed.

So, who were the amazing young youth speakers and trainers of YEP Camp? They were all under 28 years old btw, mostly around mid-20s and one early 20s!! Take a deep breath for a big dose of awesomeness! We would like to give a big thanks to Renard Widiarto (Director of PT Bangunindo Patriatama, Financial Management Masters Student at UnDip, ITB Civil Engineering alumni, former 2011 ITB Entrepreneurship Challenge President etc.), Fithor Muhammad (Director of CV Widya Karya Nusantara: Herbal Manure, Head of Center of Entrepreneurship Development & Studies UI, Industrial Engineering student in UI, owner of Mugi-Mugi Cafe, etc), Robbi Zidna Ilman (Director of CV Ideas Indonesia, one of the founders of GrowBox, ITB Architecture Engineering alumni, former Head of ITB Architecture Student Body [IMAG ITB], etc.), Roni Heryatno (Entrepreneurship Project Leader in Kampus Diakonia Modern [for street children], former banker, SME entrepreneur, Masters in Management alumni of Mercubuana University, etc.) and Abdullah Rofiq (Founder and Director of Enigami Paper, Business and Economics student, founder of Enigami Community/ Komunitas Enigami, Greenpreneurship Challenge, etc.)

I wish all the participants of YEP Camp Indonesia the greatest luck for their future eco-business endeavours! On behalf of the committee we would like to say thank you for your great and enthusiastic participation, we apologize if there are any flaws that we did, and we hope you all have great progress in the present and future in any given pace. Don't forget all the important pep-talk that we as committee gave to you all. :)

Some YEP Camp articles in the news:

Liputan 6 = http://news.liputan6.com/read/2032293/kurangi-pengangguran-melalui-yep-camp-indonesia

Kabar Kampus = http://kabarkampus.com/2014/05/alumni-pertukaran-pelajar-amerika-gelar-pelatihan-ecopreneuship-di-cibodas/ 

Our website:

http://www.yepcamp.org/

Ok that is all for now. Thanks!

[zevasudana-blog]

tEaSCAPADE!

I was looking through my photos today and I realized I had these photos of me and some cousins of my extended family including my bro on our short trip to Lembang, West Java! City kids into the countryside! This was like months ago back in February. Hahaha. I'd like to give my apologies to my cousins, they had to wait this long to see the pics (apart directly from the camera). These pictures also remind me of how I wore the wrong face powder. It was too tanned a colour for me, I looked like an orange Oompa-Loompa from Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory movie!! Hahaha. Anyways, I've wanted to make this post since ages, want to share the beauty of Indonesia's tea fields too! Indonesia's tropical climate, cool highlands temperature and with its highland's volcanic soil (yes we were in an area close by to an active volcanic mountain) is very suitable to develop tea plantations / estates.

Tea has been in Indonesia's history since ages and Indonesia has exported its tea to many countries, including the so-called-tea-lovin-UK where I lived. (FYI.. tea is popular in UK, but it is quite exaggerated on how the British loves their tea. As far as I know from what I see among my friends and on nights-out, they'd very much prefer a glass of beer than a cup of tea. Haha!). 

For more than 200 years, tea has been proliferated in Indonesia. The big Java island is the biggest tea growing region besides Sumatra. In those 200 years, it wasn't always a smooth ride for the tea industry. When World War II finished, the tea estates in Indonesia was in bad condition and faced many problems. However, things got better in 1984. Investments, improvements and tea exports began to flourish and it was a milestone for Indonesia in the world tea industry. By early 2000s, there were approximately 65,000 hectares of tea plantations/estates put together on Java alone, out of the 142,000 hectares. Though, in the last couple of years tea production has been declining because the decreasing size of plantations. For example as written in Tempo, in 2013 tea plantations in Indonesia are a total of 123,500 hectares. That's like a 20,000-ish hectares shrinking from the early 2000's! In 2013, from the approximate 119,651 tons of tea produced in Indonesia per year, the tea exported overseas is around 75,000 tons.

Besides Indonesia, major tea exporting countries are India, Sri Lanka, Rwanda, Malawi, and Kenya. These six countries total a 50% global production of tea. Indonesia's tea in the international market is priced around 2 USD per kilograms.

Ok, enough history. I do like to write a bit of history in my travel posts if I can. Hahaha. If you'e noticed my posts are like this. I like to share around the knowledge.

Ok then, click through and enjoy the green sceneries! :)

[zevasudana-blog]

YOUTH ECOPRENEURSHIP CAMP (YEP CAMP) LAUNCHING

Hi everyone! Sorry for the late post! I've been occupied with some things lately. In this post I would like to share some photos of YEP Camp's Launching at @ america on the 5th of April 2014! On behalf of the committee I would like to give our deepest thanks to the honourable Mr. Rasio Ridho Sani, Deputy of Toxic and Hazardous Waste Management & Waste from the Ministry of Environment as our Keynote speaker and also our list of distinguished speakers Olivia Purba as YEP Camp director, Anton Abdul Fatah director of Sindang Sari Agroforestry Project, Nina Nuraniyah director of GREENNA, and M. Bijaksana Junerosano director of Greeneration Indonesia. Deepest thank you also for Christina Monroe from the East West Centre in Hawaii, USA.

For anybody out there, my fellow Indonesians, who know any Indonesian youths of the ages 15-25 from across Indonesia (we have decided to update and expand our scope beyond West Java) who are underprivileged yet want to be involved in eco-preneurship, please do encourage them to apply for YEP Camp Indonesia.

For further details, please visit our website (content in Bahasa Indonesia), specifically: Kegiatan Utama / Main Activity and Peserta / Participants

Best Wishes,

Zeva

[zevasudana-blog]

YEP Camp Indonesia

Youth Ecopreneurship Camp Indonesia

Hi everyone! I want to share a website of a project I am currently involved in as committee. It is called YEPCamp, or Youth EcoPreneurship Camp. A camp where amazing Indonesian youths will learn how to start-up and conduct an eco-friendly business and become EcoPreneurs! Please visit our website!

We will soon be holding this camp for chosen underprivileged yet business savvy, creative and eco-friendly Indonesian youths from across Indonesia in May! We want to empower youths through entrepreneurship, make them care more about the environment, and also become comrades to fight poverty. Uuuh yeah!

The launching of our event will occur in Pacific Place's @ america Jakarta, Saturday 5th of April 2014, 1.30pm-3.30pm. There will be speakers from the world of environment and businesses, also an acoustic performance on stage by some of the YEPCamp committee (spoiler: including me. Haha. zz) ! So, drop by to @ america! See you there!

[zevasudana-blog]

Indonesia MDG Awards Youth Forum, Indonesian Youth Diplomacy (IYD), and Study of the United States Institutes Reunion!

Hi everyone who checks out my blog! Lol. What a title I have there but it sums up the photos I've posted on this post!

On the 15th of March I helped my friends from IYD to set up a stand and take shifts in standing by at our IYD stand as a part of the social marketplace area of the Indonesia MDG Awards Youth Forum events that consisted of youth organisations with various kinds of development programs. It was so much fun, I met lots of friends both old and new! Above that, of course there was the Youth Forum and Indonesian MDG Awards itself! I will talk a bit about this below. Me and my friend Grace also went groupie-mode-on and was lucky to take a pic with Mr. Basuki Tjahaja Purnama a.k.a Mr. Ahok, the progressive + fierce Vice Governor of Jakarta!! I also sang spontaneously at the social marketplace area as seen in the last pic lol. It began with Donny, Adi, Dhacil, Afu, and Ghufron wanting me to sing. I was really hesitant at first, like, no way Jose! Not only was I not feeling that well (they didn't know that), I also felt unprepared and had no clue what to sing anyway. One of the professional acoustic band member and also Adi said: "Sing Alicia Keys If I Aint Got You!!" And so I sang that song. With all my heart hahaha. Hem.

That day was a big day. "Kantor Utusan Khusus Presiden RI Untuk MDGs" or Office of the Special Envoy of the President of the Republic of Indonesia for the MDGs, held the yearly Indonesia MDG Awards. It was a prestigious awards event for innovative development programs across Indonesia. Finalists from various MDGs categories competed to receive categorical awards from mother and child health until education programs. The awards event was held at night, whilst the IMA Youth Forum was held in the morning until afternoon. A total of 30 speakers and moderators led the forum. Indonesian youths from Aceh until Papua was there. To be a part of the forum, no fee was required but seats were a first-come-first-served basis. The participants was diverse so it was well represented. Among the distinguished speakers, I really was looking forward to hearing Mr. Basuki Tjahaja Purnama / Mr. Ahok as the Vice Governor of Jakarta, Mr. Kuntoro Mangkusubroto currently as the Head of President's Delivery Unit for Development Monitoring and Oversight, and Mrs. Tri Rismaharini the Mayor of Surabaya City. A friend of mine, Angga Dwi Martha, was also one of the speakers! He is a Youth Advocate from UNFPA.

Sorry I dont have much pictures of the Youth Forum, only one. Because I was mostly looking after the IYD Stand and had to go to a meeting. I also dont have any pictures of the IMA night hahaha. My batteries were running low.

To conclude I would like to say how proud I am of the people from youths until seniors who have been engaged in development programs and contributing to positive change even from the smallest of steps. Keep up the great work everyone! This is not only until 2015 but goes on until the earthly world ends! Haha.

[zevasudana-blog]

Here’s my vision of 2014. Create yours with the fun, free quiz #Thisisme2014. Let’s go: https://quiz.visualdna.com/me2014